After a car crash, you may be confused, in pain, and in debt. If you’re out of work, how will you pay your bills? If you need surgery, who will cover it? Perhaps your friends or relatives have recommended taking legal action, but with all these other issues weighing you down, you may find yourself asking “why do I need a lawyer after a car accident?”
Oh, let us count the ways! Advice from a lawyer is helpful after any wreck, but especially if it’s your first major car accident. Best of all, car accident injury lawyers work for a contingency fee, meaning you pay nothing upfront. They’ll only get paid if you get paid!
Below we’ll outline the benefits of working with a car accident lawyer, plus answer some other common questions we hear from people curious about hiring a car accident lawyer.
How Can A Car Accident Lawyer Help?
After a car accident, a personal injury lawyer can be your greatest resource. In addition to knowing the laws that apply to your accident, they know how to apply them and how to advocate for you. That’s right: a car accident lawyer knows your rights and protects them! They can guide you through the injury claim process and get you the money you need.
When you partner with us, our legal team will immediately get to work collecting evidence to support your case.
But first, let’s talk about the help you need right now. A car accident attorney can:
- Schedule appointments with medical providers
- Help with vehicle repairs
- Provide transportation and/or set you up with a rental car
All this at no cost to you! Sound good? We’re just getting started.
Handling a personal injury case is a full-time job. You probably don’t have enough extra hours in your week to deal with everything involved, but a car accident lawyer can streamline the stressful process of filing an insurance claim.
How exactly can a car accident injury lawyer help? Let’s spell it out for you.
Collecting Evidence & Determining Liability
Proving fault — also known as determining liability — is a key step of a car accident injury claim. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most complicated.
If someone else’s negligence caused an accident that left you injured, a car accident attorney can help you prove it.
When you hire a car accident attorney, their professional team will obtain all available evidence to strengthen your case. This includes:
- Photos from the scene of the crash, including photos of your injuries and your damaged property. You know what they say: A picture says a thousand words! These photos can be invaluable proof in your case.
- Police reports. If police are called to the scene, they generate an accident report. The details in this report will be important for your case.
- Witness testimonies. Contacting witnesses promptly is urgent, as they may forget details as time passes.
- Important paperwork such as copies of your medical records and bills. We will also request payroll information from your employer in order to determine the income you’ve lost or will lose as a result of the accident.
- Surveillance footage. Unbeknownst to you, your accident might’ve been captured on video. Your car accident injury lawyer can access surveillance footage from security cameras or nearby businesses, if applicable.
- Phone records. If a lawsuit is filed, the at-fault driver’s cell phone records can be obtained via a subpoena. Your attorney can check timestamps and other data to prove you were hit by a distracted driver.*
- Expert witness input from investigators, crash reconstruction specialists, doctors, economists, and more.
Calculating the Value of Your Car Accident Injury Claim
How much is your car accident injury claim worth? Your car accident attorney can calculate a fair number and help you avoid lowball settlement offers.
Your attorney will include the following in your accident claim:
- Past and future medical bills
- Property damage, including vehicle damage
- Lost wages and future lost income
- Pain and suffering
These losses, also known as damages, will be closely tracked by your car accident lawyer in order to get a clear estimate of your claim’s worth.
Negotiating with the Insurance Company
No one wants to argue with insurance companies. The good news is you don’t have to!
Insurance companies are not here to help. In fact, they can be tricky and even downright deceptive. They will twist your words against you in an attempt to invalidate your claim.
Leave them to us. With decades of experience, our car accident lawyers know what tactics to look out for.
Without a car accident injury lawyer to field questions and handle negotiations, you risk losing out on the full value of your claim. Don’t settle for less than you deserve!
In addition, we can handle all the pesky paperwork, like writing a letter of demand and submitting a settlement package to the at-fault party’s insurance.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If a stubborn insurance company refuses to settle, filing a lawsuit shows them you mean business. At trial, both sides will present evidence and argue their case in front of a judge and jury. A skilled car accident attorney is prepared to take your case to court and fight for what’s right. Read our blog for more on how a car accident lawsuit works*.
Settling Your Claim
When your claim has been settled and a check has been disbursed, your car accident injury lawyer will collect their fee. They will also use the check to handle any liens for your unpaid bills, so you don’t have to worry about being indebted to any provider. Finally, they will issue you a check for the remaining money.
How Much Does A Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
Absolutely nothing! It’s a common misconception that lawyers are expensive, but in reality, most personal injury lawyers charge nothing upfront. Instead, they operate under a contingent fee arrangement. This means they take a percentage of your final settlement money. If they do not win your case, they do not receive payment.
When Should I Hire A Car Accident Lawyer?
If you’re wondering when you should get an attorney after a car accident, the answer is simple: ASAP.
The statute of limitations for car accidents is anywhere from 1 to 6 years, depending on which state you are in. However, in any case, it’s best to act now. If you wait too long to file your claim, valuable evidence may be lost and injuries may worsen. The sooner you reach out to our team of car crash attorneys after your accident, the sooner we’ll be able to get you on the road to recovery.
What Should I Bring to My Consultation with A Car Accident Lawyer?
Good news: Many car accident lawyers provide free consultations. Once you reach out, a personal injury lawyer will meet with you — either virtually or in person — and provide a free case evaluation. You will answer questions about the accident, your injuries, your expenses, and more. During this first discussion, you can tell your story and share information to help the lawyer get a better idea of your case’s potential. Be ready to provide the following:
- Date of the accident
- Location of the accident
- Case number from police officers who responded
- Your information (name, vehicle, license number, insurance provider, etc)
- The other driver’s information (name, vehicle, license number, insurance provider, etc)
- Photos of the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries
- Date and location of any medical treatments you received after the crash
- Summary of your injuries and medical diagnoses, if applicable
- Any correspondence you’ve had with insurance adjusters
If you both want to move forward with a claim, you will be asked to review and sign a retainer agreement. (Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you will pay us nothing upfront. The retainer agreement will specify the fee amount that your attorney will take from the final settlement. We only get paid if you get paid!)
Do I Really Need A Lawyer for A Car Accident?
It’s always beneficial to seek legal advice. However, you especially need a car accident attorney in these scenarios:
- This is your first car accident
- You were hurt in the car accident
- You have been asked to provide medical records
- You have been asked to give a recorded statement
- The insurance company refused to pay, or approached you with a low offer that doesn’t cover your expenses
The fine print of an insurance policy is enough to make your head spin. There are bound to be loopholes — some helpful, some harmful — but you’ll never know unless you consult a car accident attorney. We’re equipped with a thorough knowledge of the law, as well as the tactics and strategies each individual insurance company employs.
Our complimentary case evaluations are risk-free. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Does My Accident Qualify for A Car Accident Attorney?
Every car accident is different, so there’s only one way to find out: get a free case evaluation right now. Our car accident lawyers handle many different types of cases. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, don’t suffer any longer. Link up with the legal representation you need.
Treating Injuries After A Car Accident: What is A Letter of Protection?
A car accident can cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, many people avoid seeing a doctor because they are afraid they cannot afford treatment.
By the time they learn about their legal rights, it’s too little too late, and their bodies have suffered irreparable damage.
Don’t let this happen to you. Seek medical treatment ASAP.
If you’ve been badly hurt in a car accident, the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance won’t pay for your surgery when you need it. Instead, they expect you to pay for your surgery out of pocket, then submit all of the bills to them afterward. Even then, they may try to dispute your claim!
Doctors and surgeons expect payment when they render services. However, if you’re low on funds or you have inadequate health insurance coverage (or none at all), your car accident injury lawyer will understand if you cannot afford these expenses. They can help you by providing your doctors with a letter of protection.
A letter of protection, also known as an LOP, is a letter submitted to a medical professional by a personal injury lawyer representing an injured client. A letter of protection guarantees a medical provider will receive their payment from a pending claim settlement or future lawsuit award. This means medical providers agree to treat you now and postpone payment collection until your case is finalized – whenever that may be.
While you recover, future medical bills for the duration of your treatment and claim will go to your attorney for proper record keeping. You can request your own copies as well.
If your attorney settles your case or wins your lawsuit, they are then obligated to follow up and confirm that the medical provider’s bills get settled out of a portion of the funds awarded to you.
A letter of protection can also delay debt collection on previous medical bills. For example, if you were in a car crash and received urgent emergency medical care, the facility might’ve billed your health insurance carrier. If your insurance refuses to pay for this bill for whatever reason, your car accident attorney may get a letter of protection to keep the facility off of your back – and keep them from damaging your credit.
Know Your Options After A Car Accident
The majority of personal injury claims are settled without a trial, but even if you never end up in a courtroom, a lawyer is still an indispensable ally when it comes to settling your claim.
Still unsure? Luckily we offer 100% FREE virtual case evaluations from live legal experts available 24/7.
Reach out now for your free consultation. You owe it to yourself to speak with an experienced car accident injury lawyer.
